Circuit closer



Dec. 23, 1930. w. H. GRovER ET Al. 1,786,391

CIRCUIT CLOSER Original Filed April 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sham 1` Dec. 23, 1930. w. H. GRovER ET AL CIRCUIT CLOSER Original Filed April l, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' l M l NM1 W Q@ @1 3 5 @E l y@ 31% g M@\\ *will gvvueno mw., 2v. am, w

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atto: wmf- Patented Dec. k23, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM I-I. GROVER AND WILLIAM Sv. POLEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AND CLARENCE E. MERARITT, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN orncurr Original application led April 1, 1926, y 1928. ScriaI This invention relates to a circuit closer which is adapted to control the successive closing and opening of a plurality of electric circuits at predetermined time intervals. The invention, 'in its present embodiment, is intended primarily 'for use in an elevator signal system, such as is disclosed in our U. Se. Patent No. 1,731,975 issued Oct. 15,1929, of which the present application is a division. It will be readily seen, however, that a circuit closer of substantially the same construction may be used in connection with a great variety of electrically operated devices which it is desirable to control in a similar manner.

One of the objects of thepresent invention is to provide a circuit closer which is capablev of controlling any number o'l'circuitsy and which is provided with improved adjusting means for varying the time of opening and closing the various circuits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenientl arrangement containing a pluralityof sets of contacts (and selective means whereby any of said sets of contacts may be rendered operable.

The speciiic construction of the invention as at present constructed, and its mode oi operation', will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which f I Figure-1 is a plan View of the invention.,`

F i0'. 2 Vis a central sectional view through one unit of the invention, showing the same on an enlarged scale. f

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one pair of brushes used in Yconnection with the invention. n f

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of an electrical system which may be controlled by the circuit closer.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the several parts of the circuit closer are arranged about a shaft 7, which is rotatably supported and driven by any suitable means, as for example through the medium of a gear 8 secured to the shaft. The circuit closer may have any number of like units, each comprising one or more switch arms 48, 49, rotatable with the shaft, and a iiXed commutator 11, having for Serial No. 99,047.

oLosEE i Divided and this application filed March 16,

each switch arm a set oi segments 57, 58 arranged concentric with the shaft.

Each of the switch arms 48 and 49 carries a pair or brushes, as indicated at and 51, respectively. These brushes are set tangenf tially, as shown in Fig. 4, and may be adjustand 49, a pairof insulated bushings 31 and 32,

coupled to each other by one or more bolts 42, are secured to the shai't 7 by a suitable hey 43, which maybe inserted through a hub formed on one of the bushings, as shown in Fig. 2. These bushings are providerL with circumferential channels rings 33 .and 34 are housed. The arms 48 and 49 are secured to rings 44 and 45 respectively, which are individually adjustable circumterentially of the respective rings 33 and 34 and which may be securedin any position. of adjustment by set screws 46 and 47. `Cloncentrically arranged collector rings 35 and 36 are fixed on the outer face otono of the bushings, as 31, and are adapted to make contact with the brushes 37 and 38, which are supported by a suitable bracket 39. The collector rings 35 and 3G-are electrically connected with the contact rings 33 and 34,respcctively, through the bolts 40 and 41.l

The brushes 50 and 51 cooperate with the series of segments 57 and 58, respectivell which are carried by the commutator 11 and which are insulated from each other; i

The brush 38 contacting with the collector ring 36 is connected through the wire 52 to a source of electric energy 53 andthrough the wire 54 and switch 55 to electric sifrnals or En other devices 56, which are in common circuit. The other sides of electrical devices 55 areconnected to respective'sets of segments 57 and 5870i:- the commutator 11. The other circuit is connected' from brush 37 through a wireY 59 to a source of electrical energy 60 in which vcontact and thence by a wire 6l and the switch 55 to the common side of the electrical devices 5S. The switch 55 is common to both circuits and when moved to close one circuit, opens the other.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that each of the rings at and 45 of each unit may be indi 'idually adjusted circumferentially about the contact ring with which it is associated; each brush of each pair and 5l may be individually adjust-ed longitudinally of the arm by which it is carried; and a switch may be actuated to render operable either the inner series of segments 5S through the brushes 5l or the outer series of segments 57 through-the brushes-50. It is also obvious that by this adjustment of the rings 44,- aud l5 of different units, the contacts of one unit may be set behind or ahead of the contacts of any other unit. In the operation of a number of units, this greatly reduces the maximum load and Consequently lowers the cost of the current consumed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be used in connection with many different kinds of signal systems and other electrical installations and that many modifications may be made in its specilic construction without any material departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is our intention, theren fore, to include all such modificationsl Within the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat we claim is:

1. In a circuit closer, a commutator havingconcentric rows of segments and a rotatable member cooperating therewith including interconnected bushings, contact rings positioned on said bushings, brush arm carrying rings adjustable circumferentially of said contact rings, brush arms carried by the respective adjustable rings, and means for locking said adjustable rings in the desired setting.

2. In a circuit closer, a commutator having concentric rows of segments and a rotatable member cooperating therewith, said rotatable member including interconnected bushings, contact rings postioned upon said bushings, rings adjustable circumferentially of said contact rings, means for locking said adjustable rings in the desired setting, brush arms carried by the respective. adjustable rings, and a. switch arm Voperable to establish a circuit through one of said arms to the exclusion of any other of said arms.

3. In a circuit closer, a eommutator having concentric Arows of segments, spaced brush arms for the respective rows, means for rotating said brush arms, and a pair of brushes carried by eacharm in cooperative relation to the respective row of segments, each brush of each pair being individually adjustable in a direction substantally tangentital to its path of movement.

4:. In a circuit closer, a commutator having concentric rows of segments and a rotatable member including interconnected bushings, contact rings positioned on said bushings, brush arm carrying rings adjustable circumferentially of said contact rings, brush arms carried by the respective adjustable rings, a pair of brushes carried by each arm in cooperative relation to the respective row of segnemts, each brush of each pair being individually adjustable in a direction substantially tangential to its path of movement', and means for locking said adjustable rings in the desired setting.

5. A circuit closer comprising a plurality of units, each unit including a commutator with a series of segments insulated from each other, a shaft common to all units, means for rotating said shaft, brush carrying arms supported by the shaft for cooperation with the respective series of segments, and means for selectviely adjusting the brush carrying arm of each unit about the shaft, independently of the other units.

' 6. A circuit closer comprising a plurality of units, each unit including a commutator with a series of segments insulated from each other, a shaft common to all units, means for rotating said shaft, brush carrying arms supported by the shaft for cooperation with the respective series of segments, a pair of brushes carried by each arm for engaging the segments, each brush of each pair being individually adjustable in a direction substantially tangential to its path of movement, and means for selectively adjusting the brush carrying arm of each unit about the shaft, independently of the other units.

7. A circuit closer coi'nprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising a series of contacts and a brush engageable successively with said contacts, means for moving all of the brushes simultaneously over the respective series of contacts, and means for individually and-selectively setting each brush forwardly or backwardly with respect to the other brushes.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names to this speciicaton.

' VILLIAM H. GROVER.

WILLIAM S. POOLEY. CLARENCE E. MERRI'IT. 

